Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “ratel” come from?

ratel (English) comes from Afrikaans ratel, from Dutch ratel, from Middle Dutch ratele, from Middle Dutch râte, from Old Dutch rāta, from Proto-West Germanic hrātu, from Proto-Germanic hrētō, from Proto-Indo-European kr̥t- — to twist, weave.

ratel (English): A carnivorous mammal, "Mellivora capensis", found...

Definitions

  1. A carnivorous mammal, "Mellivora capensis", found...

Ancestry of “ratel”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Afrikaansratelhoney badger; badger
2Dutchratelratchet, rattle; ratchet; socket wrench
3Middle Dutchratele—
4Middle Dutchrâte—
5Old Dutchrāta—
6Proto-West Germanichrātuhoneycomb
7Proto-Germanichrētō—
8Proto-Indo-Europeankr̥t-to twist, weave
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kr̥t- →